United States of America: Volunteer Attorney

Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project– Fall 2015 Volunteer Attorney

The Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) organizes law students and attorneys to provide legal representation to vulnerable refugees in the Middle East in need of resettlement. Through the efforts of students at over twenty-four law school chapters and pro bono supervising attorneys at law firms across the United States, we have helped to resettle hundreds of refugees and to achieve major policy changes affecting tens of thousands more.

Role and Responsibilities

Volunteer Attorneys in IRAP's New York, Amman, and Beirut offices will work directly with refugees in the Middle East and assist IRAP staff and attorneys with the screening and preparation of legal cases. They will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience, including:

· Conducting initial intake interviews with clients, and drafting intake reports as part of IRAP’s case screening process;

· Providing direct representation in UNHCR refugee status determination, U.S. Special Immigrant Visa, and USCIS refugee interviews and proceedings, including accompanying refugees to interviews;

· Preparing affidavits and other evidence;

· Researching factual and legal claims; and

· Drafting memorandums and briefs.

The position is flexible, but volunteers typically commit approximately 15 hours per week. This is an unpaid volunteer role. IRAP's staff in the Middle East and in New York will jointly supervise all participants. Volunteers can begin as early as September 1.

Experience and Qualifications

· LLB, LLM, JD, or equivalent legal education; admitted to practice law in Jordan, Lebanon, or the United States.

· Experience working with refugees or vulnerable individuals, in particular with victims of serious trauma.

· Flexibility to work on a wide variety of projects, the organizational skills to balance direct client assistance with research and writing, and the drive to execute projects with long-distance supervision.

· Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills.

· Fluency in Arabic helpful, but not required.For more information about IRAP, please visit refugeerights.org

Volunteer Attorneys should send a cover letter, resume, short writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length), and a list of three references to ccrooke@refugeerights.org with the subject "IRAP Volunteer Attorney.”